Ohio Legislature: Recent House and Senate Sessions have been sparse, and legislators are in full campaign-mode. However, work has continued in legislative committees.

Gubernatorial Race: With the three scheduled gubernatorial debates completed, most polls show the race between Democratic candidate Richard Cordray and Republican candidate Mike DeWine too close to call. The outcome could well rest on voter turnout.

Early Voting Underway: Early voting for Ohio’s November 6 General Election began October 10 and lasts through November 5. Voters can either vote early by mail (Request a ballot from your county’s board of elections, fill out the form and mail it back or drop it off at your local board of elections headquarters) or in person by going to your county’s Board of Elections with an acceptable form of identification. Hours are as follows: between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays between Oct. 10 and Oct. 26; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. between Oct. 29 and Nov. 2; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4 and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 5.

Ohio Legislature: Recent House and Senate Sessions have been cancelled, and legislators are in full campaign-mode. However, work has continued in legislative committees. A Senate Session is scheduled for September 25.

Tax Expenditure Review Committee: The Tax Expenditure Review Committee was created in 2016 (HB9, 131st General Assembly) and requires the legislature to evaluate over an eight-year period Ohio’s tax credits and exemptions, including economic development programs that use these tools. The group has met four times, reviewing 15 tax credit/exemption programs, and was legislatively required to issue its first report July 1. That report is now tardy, so watch for the report to come out later this fall.

Lake Erie Executive Order: Controversy continues about Governor Kasich’s Lake Erie Executive Order signed July 11, which attempted to mandate limits on nonpoint source phosphorus, such as that from agricultural operations, which may fuel harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie. Feedback was recently sought by the Ohio Department of Agriculture on proposed rules promulgated under the Order, and concerns were expressed by key legislators as well as the Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission. The Legislature plans to form a Study Committee to gather additional constituent input, although members of the Committee have not yet been appointed. The Governor’s Administration has signaled that it still intends to advance the rules through the rulemaking process via the Common Sense Initiative and the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review. The rules would then return to the commission for final approval.

State Political Activity:

Political: Although the results of the August 7 special election to replace U.S. Congressman Pat Tiberi for the remainder of his term in the 12th Congressional District was initially too close to call, it now appears that the winner will be Republican candidate Troy Balderson. As of August 21, Balderson leads Democratic candidate Danny O’Connor by about 1781 votes. All absentee and provisional ballots must be counted and certified by August 24. If the final results show a margin of 0.5 percent or less, state election officials will hold an automatic recount. The race was the subject of intense local and national interest, as it was heralded as a possible predictor of other races on the November ballot. The same two candidates will face each other again in November for a full term representing the 12th District.

State Legislative Activity:

Legislative: In response to a Governor’s Executive Order containing proposed farm regulations to combat Lake Erie’s harmful algae blooms issued earlier this summer but put on hold , Ohio legislators have formed a bi-partisan panel called “Toward A Cleaner Lake Erie”. The panel will be chaired by two Republicans who lead agriculture committees in the legislature, State Senator Bob Hackett from London and State Representative Brian Hill from Zanesville. Others Senators on the panel include Bob Peterson, R-Washington Court House; Matt Dolan, R-Chagrin Falls; Rob McColley, R-Napoleon; Edna Brown, D-Toledo, and Michael Skindell, D-Lakewood. House members, in addition to Hill, are Steve Arndt, R-Sandusky; Kyle Koehler, R-Springfield; Jim Hoops, R-Napoleon; Riordan McClain, R-Upper Sandusky; John Patterson, D-Jefferson, and Michael Sheehy, D-Oregon. The panel will meet for the first time next week and hold meetings throughout the fall.